Poll Gives Cuomo Very Favorable News

The latest Siena poll gives Gov. Andrew Cuomo his highest favorability rating yet, with 77% of respondants approving of the job the governor is doing. Plus, despite some initial grumbling, nearly 3/4ths of New Yorkers say that they approved of Cuomo’s budget.

“The honeymoon continues,” said Siena pollster Steven Greenberg.

“After six weeks in office, New Yorkers like the man, and the job that he’s doing as Governor.”

Nearly half of those polled said, for the first time since 2007, that they believe the state is “on the right track.”

Cuts on education spending and Medicaid were the only two areas where there was significant dissent. While education was listed as the cut that voters wanted to see the least, saying that they were concerned about what the cuts would mean for education quality, Medicaid still produced the biggest split among voters.

“Reducing Medicaid spending produced the closest divide among voters with 51 percent of voters supporting the cut – including majorities of Republicans and independents, upstate voters and those with household incomes of more than $50,000 – and 45 percent opposing it – including majorities of Democrats, liberals, African American voters and those with household incomes below $50,000,” Greenberg said.

Still, 70% that the Medicaid budget should be tightened, and could be done without damaging consequences.

The question of whether or not to extend the tax rate increase on those earning over $200,000 was supported by nearly two thirds of voters. The tax, which is set to expire at the end of this year, is seen by many as a way to minimize the deficit without having a major impact on the state’s social programs.

The poll also had good news for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who received a bump in her favorability ratings. The latest poll has her at a 57-18 favorability rating, putting her seven points up since the last poll. Also significant in the numbers was the fact that 52% of voters, including many Republicans, said that they would re-elect her when her election comes in 2012.